http://discovermagazine.com Science, Technology, and The Future http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/30-state-of-the-climate-and-science http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/30-state-of-the-climate-and-science Four scientists discuss where the climate is and where it's going. photography by Timothy Archibald http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/30-state-of-the-climate-and-science/key_image Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:35:00 -0500 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:35:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/18-forget-lightning-how-do-we-catch-sunshine-in-a-bottle http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/18-forget-lightning-how-do-we-catch-sunshine-in-a-bottle Renewable power is inspiring clever new ways to store electricity—and to uncork it exactly when and where it is needed. Maggie Koerth-Baker http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/18-forget-lightning-how-do-we-catch-sunshine-in-a-bottle/key_image Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:40:00 -0500 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:40:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/10-building-interstate-highway-system-for-energy http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/10-building-interstate-highway-system-for-energy Tomorrow’s smart grid will keep the lights on and factories humming with clean (but fickle) renewable energy. Peter Fairley http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/10-building-interstate-highway-system-for-energy/key_image Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:20:00 -0500 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:20:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/08-new-tech-could-make-nuclear-best-weapon-against-climate-change http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/08-new-tech-could-make-nuclear-best-weapon-against-climate-change Two new designs aim to make nuclear reactors safer and vastly more efficient. Elizabeth Svoboda http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/08-new-tech-could-make-nuclear-best-weapon-against-climate-change/key_image Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:10:00 -0500 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:10:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/04-when-life-gives-you-manure-make-clean-fuel http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/04-when-life-gives-you-manure-make-clean-fuel The simple step of drying out animal waste can help turn it into a safer, more practical energy source. Stephen Cass http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/04-when-life-gives-you-manure-make-clean-fuel/key_image Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:25:00 -0500 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:25:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/18-red-badge-of-climate-change http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/18-red-badge-of-climate-change Tracing the flow of a blood-red fluorescent dye may reveal the ultimate fate of the Greenland's ice. http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/18-red-badge-of-climate-change/key_image Mon, 18 May 2009 10:45:00 -0500 Mon, 18 May 2009 10:45:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/04-a-shad-situation http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/04-a-shad-situation The population of American shad rebounded in the 1990s but is again on the wane. Darlene Cavalier http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/04-a-shad-situation/key_image Sun, 17 May 2009 10:10:00 -0500 Sun, 17 May 2009 10:10:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/03-next-source-of-green-energy-your-car-itself http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/03-next-source-of-green-energy-your-car-itself A new MIT invention turns shock absorbers into electric generators. Andrew Grant http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/03-next-source-of-green-energy-your-car-itself/key_image Sun, 03 May 2009 14:25:00 -0500 Sun, 03 May 2009 14:25:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-tunnels http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-tunnels New York has a forgotten one, Texas has a $2 billion wasted one, and Switzerland's building the longest. Jocelyn Rice http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-tunnels/key_image Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:15:00 -0500 Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:15:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/13-eyes-in-sky-show-air-pollution-is-much-worse http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/13-eyes-in-sky-show-air-pollution-is-much-worse New satellite tracking gives a much more accurate read on global air pollution. Boonsri Dickinson http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/13-eyes-in-sky-show-air-pollution-is-much-worse/key_image Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:40:00 -0500 Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:40:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/10-worlds-biggest-tornado-hunt http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/10-worlds-biggest-tornado-hunt Next month, 100 meteorologists will try to finally understand the dynamics of tornadoes—like the one that killed three people in Mena, Arkansas, last night. Leora Frankel http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/10-worlds-biggest-tornado-hunt/key_image Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:25:00 -0500 Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:25:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/09-can-smart-tech-keep-chevy-volt.s-battery-running http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/09-can-smart-tech-keep-chevy-volt.s-battery-running GM says that tightly controlling how the battery charges will keep it alive for 10 years/150,000 miles. Stephen Cass http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/09-can-smart-tech-keep-chevy-volt.s-battery-running/key_image Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:25:00 -0500 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:25:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/06-diamonds-are-geologist.s-best-friend http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/06-diamonds-are-geologist.s-best-friend Tiny carbon spheres hidden under rock and ice may be telltales of cataclysmic comet strikes. Andrew Grant http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/06-diamonds-are-geologist.s-best-friend/key_image Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:25:00 -0500 Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:25:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/30-strange-forests-that-drink-eat-fog http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/30-strange-forests-that-drink-eat-fog Researchers have discovered that fog, originating offshore from some of the richest ocean waters on the planet, arrives in fog forests around the world bearing essential fertilizing nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and sulfur. Michael Tennesen http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/30-strange-forests-that-drink-eat-fog/key_image Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:40:00 -0500 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:40:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/19-how-to-tell-if-you.re-poisoning-yourself-with-fish http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/19-how-to-tell-if-you.re-poisoning-yourself-with-fish Researchers are creating genetic tests to determine if mercury hiding in that "healthy" dinner could be messing with your brain. David Ewing Duncan; photograph by Kathrin Miller http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/19-how-to-tell-if-you.re-poisoning-yourself-with-fish/key_image Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:50:00 -0500 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:50:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/13-whatever-happened-to-acid-rain http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/13-whatever-happened-to-acid-rain A former household term, acid rain is often mistaken as a "solved problem." But while legislation has cleaned up much of it, the problem is far from over—especially in rapidly industrializing countries. Stephen Ornes http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/13-whatever-happened-to-acid-rain/key_image Fri, 13 Mar 2009 08:05:00 -0500 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 08:05:00 -0500 Web Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/20-things-you-didn.t-know-about-time http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/20-things-you-didn.t-know-about-time 3) Daylight Saving Time began as a joke by Benjamin Franklin, who proposed waking people earlier on bright summer mornings so they might work more during the day and thus save candles. 19) Time has not been around forever. Most scientists believe it was created along with the rest of the universe in the Big Bang, 13.7 billion years ago. LeeAundra Temescu http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/20-things-you-didn.t-know-about-time/key_image Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:45:00 -0500 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:45:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/03-what-is-this-a-cloud http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/03-what-is-this-a-cloud Stay away: these poofy blobs are actually quite deadly. Andrew Grant http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/03-what-is-this-a-cloud/key_image Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:20:00 -0500 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:20:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/08-seeds-largest-oldest-safest http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/08-seeds-largest-oldest-safest Jeremy Jacquot http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/08-seeds-largest-oldest-safest/key_image Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:20:00 -0500 Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:20:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/28-sustainable-architecture-takes-cues-from-original-green-nature http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/28-sustainable-architecture-takes-cues-from-original-green-nature Glass that "breathes" like gills, solar cells that imitate leaves, and other biomimetic technologies Blaine Brownell http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/28-sustainable-architecture-takes-cues-from-original-green-nature/key_image Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:30:00 -0600 Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:30:00 -0600 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/28-a-glow-below http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/28-a-glow-below Fluorescent coral captured on film Amy Barth http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/28-a-glow-below/key_image Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:20:00 -0600 Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:20:00 -0600 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/25-weirdest-new-source-alternative-energy-underwater-vibrations http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/25-weirdest-new-source-alternative-energy-underwater-vibrations As swirling water flows past a series of metal rods, the rods vibrate, and the vibrations produce electricity. It's the same phenomenon that oil companies spend millions of dollars to prevent at offshore rigs. Andrew Grant http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/25-weirdest-new-source-alternative-energy-underwater-vibrations/key_image Wed, 25 Feb 2009 08:55:00 -0600 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 08:55:00 -0600 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/23-climate-drone-goes-where-scientists-fear-to-tread http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/23-climate-drone-goes-where-scientists-fear-to-tread The Manta explores and monitors Greenland's treacherous glaciers. Eric Roston http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/23-climate-drone-goes-where-scientists-fear-to-tread/key_image Mon, 23 Feb 2009 07:20:00 -0600 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 07:20:00 -0600 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/feb/best-new-science-books http://discovermagazine.com/2009/feb/best-new-science-books Neil deGrasse Tyson, Area 51, modern life vs human nature, and more http://discovermagazine.com/2009/feb/best-new-science-books/key_image Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:05:00 -0600 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:05:00 -0600 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/10-six-sites-that-are-the-galapagos-for-modern-darwins http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/10-six-sites-that-are-the-galapagos-for-modern-darwins Researchers see amazing twists of evolution at the biological hot spots. Linda Marsa http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/10-six-sites-that-are-the-galapagos-for-modern-darwins/key_image Tue, 10 Feb 2009 08:15:00 -0600 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 08:15:00 -0600 Print Article